Well well well. Here we are again. You know, when I made the resolution to post more often I was acting under the assumption that I would always have things to post about but it seems life doesn't quite work that way, and in fact does dish out rather ordinary weeks on occassion. But that doesn't mean I have nothing to say.
What you will come to understand is that I am seriously philosophical. It amazes me sometimes the amount of time I can spend just pondering. My thoughts generally tend toward the nature of life, and happiness and God and peace. But is that really surprising? I don't think so. I mean, isn't that what we're all searching for? Happiness? Peace? Possibly it's presumptuous to say that I've already discovered what makes me happy, what brings me peace. I mean, I'm not even a legal adult quite yet but does that have to mean that I don't understand happiness? I don't think so. Let me illustrate for you a little bit of my personal Philosophy on Happiness.
What you will come to understand is that I am seriously philosophical. It amazes me sometimes the amount of time I can spend just pondering. My thoughts generally tend toward the nature of life, and happiness and God and peace. But is that really surprising? I don't think so. I mean, isn't that what we're all searching for? Happiness? Peace? Possibly it's presumptuous to say that I've already discovered what makes me happy, what brings me peace. I mean, I'm not even a legal adult quite yet but does that have to mean that I don't understand happiness? I don't think so. Let me illustrate for you a little bit of my personal Philosophy on Happiness.
These are pictures I drew for each of our Mutual themes ever since I turned 12, except for the theme the year I got in (the 13th article of faith). Often I've pondered on the significance of the order. If we take the action word of each theme in order, it goes like this:
BELIEVE. ARISE. STAND. COME. EMBARK. PRESS FORWARD. ASK OF GOD.
These are words I've grown up reciting and I finally have realized that in them lies the secret to happiness. As we believe in Christ, arise and stand for Him, come unto Him and then embark in His service, as we press forward doing whatever He asks, and last of all, as we rely on Him, asking for His help in our journeys, we will feel the peace and assurance that comes from knowing that God is our Heavenly Father and He LOVES us more than we can possibly comprehend. As one of our ward members said today, He will never allow anything to happen that hurts us in eternity. Happiness, I have learned, does not mean the absence of trials. Rather, it is the presence of trust, faith, hope, love and ultimately the peace that comes from drawing near to the Savior of the world.
I have seen this principle in my life, more so in the past year than any other. I have learned that when I put my trust in God I am happier than I ever have been, including the times when life was relatively easy. I have seen the evidence of God's love in the answers of prayer He has given, answers that are so different than I expected. I have felt His strength to endure to the end, even when the end is nowhere in sight. And now I can say with certainty that our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. We don't have to search for it because it is there for the taking if we will simply come to Him, rely on Him, and, most importantly, trust in Him implicitly. I know this is true. I have lived it.
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